Thermostatic mixing valve



Nov. 4, 1952 w. v. JORDAN 2,616,629

THERMOSTATIC MIXING VALVE Filed Nov. 24, 1950 g: 2 SHEETS'-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. FlG'] WILILIAM V. JORDAN ATTORN Nov. 4, 1952 w. v. JORDAN .THERMOSTATIC MIXING VALVE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 24, 1950 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM V. JORDAN ATTOR Patented Nov. 4, 1952 William V. Jordan, Lebanon, Ohio, assignorto Jordan Regulator Corporation,-.Lebanon, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application November 24, 1.950, Serial No. 197,347

*6 Claims.

vmaintain a substantially uniformt'emperature in the resultant mixture.

An object of this invention is to provide a mixing valve that can be set at .a desired preselected temperature which will be maintained "by the vmixture.regardlessof wide and sudden variations in temperature and .quantity of the incoming fluids.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mixin valve that "is not only extremely .accurate and sensitive, but is sturdy and reliable and will give dependable service though subjected to. hard usageandabuse,

.A .further object of the invention is to ,provide accurate and dependable thermallyactuated ,1 crating means .for a mixingvalve having an actuating stemnormally biasediin onedirection.

Still another object of theinventionjis to provide a mixing-valve characterizedjby-its extreme sensitivity and provided. with simple, ,yetLhiglily effective "actuating means which may be easily and inexpensively produced using modern mass production methods and whichmay' be serviced without diificulty, and without requiring the use ofrspecial tools.

Still a further object .of the invention is to lyand/or considerably varied. "fIhe valve .of the present invention is characterized by its ability to immediately respond to volume and/or temperature changesin fluids being mixed thereby overcoming the inherent disadvantages of the prior 'art devices with whichI am .-familiar.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mixing valve which .is compact, having thermal-responsive valveactuating means built into the valve housing whereby the entire fiow of mixed fluids is caused .to pass over the thermal responsive means, thereby greatly increasing the overall effectiveness and efliciency of the device.

Still "a further objectof the inventionis .to pro vide a'mixing valve with novel-manually operable means for enabling the user of the device to .selectzany .ten' -perature between the temperature .of the .cold water (supplied to the device,-=and a predetermined preset :maximum temperature not in excess of a safe maximum temperature. This .feature is of prime-importance in thoseinstances whereinthe valve is usedas shower valve. sinceit will prevent vthe temperature of the fluid discharged from the shower head from reachin dangerous values. My device will promptly. and automaticallyinterrupt the flow of fluid Sfrom a ..show.er head should the-cold water supply f-ailior any reason whatsoever, and if the temperature of the hot water delivered to "the valve is in excess of .the temperature setting of the valve.

These :and otherobjects are attained by the means describedhereinand as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which :Fig. 1 is :a vertical sectional view through a mixing valve embodying the teachings .of the present invention.

Fig.2 is -a side elevational view of .a modified .form of mixing valve embodying the teachings of the present invention, partly in section 'with'particular. reference now to Fig. l, it will beinoted tha't the valve comprises a pair of inlet chambers A and B, a mixing chamber C and a discharge chamberD. Chambers A and B are each separated'irom chamber C by means of an "orifice plate "20 provided with apertures '22 and 24. Flow of i'fluid-ffrom chambers 'A"and "B into the mixing chamber is controlled bywmeans of "a slide valve QB-which proportions the quantities of fluid enteringthe mixing chamber.

The-inlet and orifice "plate proportioning sarrangement for actual mixing of the fluids are similar to those :revealed .in .my presently .copending patent application filed December .13, 1949., SerialNo. 132,777. ;.Port.22 is disposed .in interconnecting relationship between chambers A :and C, while port is disposed in interconnecting relationship with chambersB and {2, it being notedthat chambers A and-B are entirely self-.containedand are separated from eachother 'by barrierifi.

Fluids introduced into chamber A and B will be discharged through ports 22 :and 24, respectively, into chamber C which is the mixing chamber.-

A slide valve 23 isvlocated in chamber the dimensional characteristics of the valve being such as .to selectively engage ports 22 and :2 tier proportionately varying their relative openings. Thus when one of the ports in the orifice plate has been completely closed, the other port therethrough will have been completely opened.

Slide valve 28 is normally and yieldably urged against and in seating relationship with the orifice plate by means of pins 36, the ends of which are conical so as to be received within and engage complementary socket portions provided in the slide valve.

The opposite ends of pins 36 are received within socket portions of spring struts 32 which are secured to orifice plate 26 by means of fastener members 34, all as more fully set forth in my co-pending patent application.

The operating characteristics of the slide valve are controlled by actuator rods 36 and 36, each of which is secured to and extends axially from coupling element 46. Pin 42 operatively interconnects the couplin element and the slide valve.

The valve housing is denoted generally by the numeral 44 and includes a portion 46 detachably secured thereto by means of bolts 48, thereby providing easy access to orifice plate 20, slide valve 28 and the interior of the mixing chamber C.

Actuator rod 36 extends upwardly out of the mixing chamber, through and beyond the upper end of housing 44 and the internally and externally threaded boss 56 formed integrally with housing 44. A suitable packing nut 62 may threadably engage the inner threaded portion of the boss for disposin a quantity of packing 54 around the actuator member for effecting a fluidtight seal while permitting axial movement of actuator member 36 relative to the valve housing.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a bonnet or adjuster housing 66 including a pair of laterally-spaced upper and lower elements 62 and 64 fixedly interconnected by side elements 66 is securely though releasably fastened to the valve housing. Each of elements 62 and 64 is provided with through, internally threaded apertures 68 and Ill, respectively, the latter dimensioned to engage the externally threaded portion of boss 50.

A spring housing or carrier I2, including a pair of laterally spaced fixedly-interconnected upper and lower end members I4 and I6 is loosel receivable in the bonnet or adjuster housing between elements 62 and 64. Lower end member I6 is provided with a blind or closed ended recess 18 into Which the upper end of actuator member 36 is receivable. If desired, the interior of end member I6 may be provided with raised central portion 69 dimensioned to extend into spring 82.

The interior walls of the spring carrier are dimensioned so as to admit spring 82 which is free to compress or decompress in an axial direction. Spring 82 is disposed between the bottom end of the spring carrier and spring guide or abutment 86 which engages the top end of the spring. The bottom portion of the spring guide or abutment may be undercut so as to receive the upper end of spring 82. The spring guide is, however, received wholly within the spring carrier and dimensioned so as to slide freely in an axial direction relative to the spring carrier, althrough it makes a close fit with the walls of the spring carrier and so will permit only linear motion of the spring.

The upper end member of the spring carrier I2 is closed by and comprises a disc 74 which is secured to the walls of the carrier in any suitable manner such as, by way of example, an interference fit between the walls and the disc plus i peening over of the walls. provided through disc I4.

The top surface of spring guide 86 is recessed so as to complementarily and slidably receive sleeve 62 which is in turn securely fastened to the bottom end of adjusting rod or shaft 94 by any suitable means such as screw threads and pin 95 as clearly illustrated inFig. 1. The free end of adjusting rod 94, together with sleeve 92, is received within spring carrier I2 through opening 60 in disc '54, the opening being dimensioned so as to allow free rotation of the actuator shaft 94.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a sleeve I96 is provided with external threads dimensioned to engage internally threaded bore 68 through upper end element 62 of bonnet 66. A nut I62 engages the external threads of sleeve I66 for securely though releasably anchoring it relative to the bonnet. This sleeve is likewise provided with internal threads engageable by the threaded portion I64 of actuator shaft 94.

The free outer end of shaft 94 is provided with a handle I66, which may be turned to produce relative axial movement between shaft 54 and sleeve I69, and thus between shaft 94 and the housing 60.

The relation of the spring to the housing is determined by adjusting shaft 94. The shaft is set in a fixed position relative to the housing and bears on the top end of the spring by means of abutment S6. Compression of the spring causes a force to be exerted on the bottom of spring housing I2. This force is in turn transmitted to actuator member 36 and thence to slide valve 28, tending to yieldingly urge the valve linearly downward toward one end of its stroke.

The tension on the spring can be accurately governed by turning handle I96 and thus moving adjusting shaft 94 upward or downward relative to housing 66. The downward travel of the adjusting shaft may be limited by a suitable means, such as, by way of example, the limit of the screw threads I04 on the shaft or rod, the diameter of the shaft or rod above the threads being the outside diameter of the threads or greater. This limit will prevent over-compression of spring 82.

The upward travel of adjusting shaft 94 is limited by sleeve 92 which will interferingly engage the lower end of sleeve I66 if the adjusting shaft is moved sufficiently upward, preventing further movement of the shaft in that direction.

Some compression will always be present in spring 82. Spring guide or abutment 86 is greater in diameter than opening 90 in disc I4, therefore even if adjusting shaft be completely withdrawn upwardly out of the spring carrier, the spring guide or abutment 86 will interferingly engage disc i4 preventing further decompression of the An aperture 9|) is spring and assuring that the spring does not escape from the spring carrier.

Actuator member 38 extends downwardly from coupling element 49 into discharge chamber D which is divided into an upper zone I26 and a lower zone I22 by flexible diaphragm I24 which spans the chamber. The outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm may be securely anchored within an annular seat provided between adjacent portions of housing 44 and a dome member I26. The lower zone is formed between diaphragm I04 and the dome, and is filled with a thermally responsive fluid or gas.

A pressure plate I28 having an enlarged flange I 36 is secured to the upper face of the diaphragm in upper zone I26 by suitable means such as $01- .derlng. The lowerend-ioi-actuator member 3.821s dixedly secured totthe pressure plate such as, by

--wa y .of example, by rmeans of complementary threaded portions; asillustrated.

.cated remote from theecentral portioncof valve housing 44. V

'rI-ntthe-gpreferredeembodimentof the invention,

rthe mixing chamber .C and discharge chamber .chamberland particularly intoupper zone 1.20

directly-onto. and against the --upper .tace .of the diaphragm, thence outwardlythrough'gport I32. In mannerl havev provided highly efiective means within the valve .housin jper se'which vmeans are. extremelyzsensitive .to even theYsl-ighttest .temperature variation in the' fluid :flowing Sirom the mixing 'chamberinto the discharge .chamber.

'-With reference now; .to .Fig. .2, .it willbenoted .ithatI-Ihave provided :a different type of thermally responsive device which comprises -:a twoepiece circular diaphragm I40 comprising zan upper-element-M2 and alower element IMhxedl-y and permanently interconnected along their complementary: outer peripheraledges -I-and I48 respec'tively, secured together, "such asby means ,ofsolder,. so as to presentaggas -:and fluid-tight :seal. A spacing washer I50 maybe utilized to hold the diaphragm elements :apart,' as. illustrated.

'Flange l 30pof pressure plate I28 isfixedly securedto the outerface of the upper diaphragm element I42, whereastheinner face of dome I26 is-provided-with an elevated central boss-I52 of anareahpproximating the ":area :of flange I30. The-lower diaphragm element I44 is fixedly .secured to boss I52 such as, by way of example, ,by. means of flange I .of-an externally threaded .stud I-62 provided with a pair of axial passageways I63 and I Ii4-therethrough. The lower-face :of the-flange may be .soldered .orcbrazed to :the .innerface of the lower diaphragm element. A .nutsIGBenga-ges stud I62 for positively andse- .curel'y anchoring "the diaphragmrassembly relaitivetto boss I52.

Jule-interior of the diaphragm is filled with a suitable thermal responsive gas or :fiuid viapastherein, whereby the i'fluid discharged through outlet port I32 will be of atemperature between the temperatures of the hot and cold fluids enter- .in, g ports I0 and I2.

In either embodiment, the mixed fluid tdischarging from chamber-C will circulate in chamber D causing the thermally responsive fluid or gas confined by the diaphragm to quickly reach :a temperature substantially that of the mixed fluids. This temperature establishes a certain pressure which tends to move the-diaphragm,

thus pushing upward .on the pressure :plate I28, -actuator :rod 38,-and slide valve 28., tendingto move the slidevalve linearly to the upper endnf its stroke.

The force of the thermally responsive gas or fluid confined by the diaphragm is opposed'by a counter-force or downward thrust of spring 82 acting through actuator rod 36 to urge the slide valve linearly downward toward the opposite end of its stroke. If the force exerted by the dia phragm .is greater than that exerted by l-the spring, theslide valve will be shifted upward uncovering .more of port .24 in orifice plate 20 while cutting ofi some of the exposed area of port'22. This will admit a greater proportion .of cold to hot fluid passing into mixing chamber Cand thence into the discharge chamber D. The resulting cooler mixture will immediately lower the temperature in chamber D causing the .dia-

phragm elements to exert a lesser force upward.

' the mixed fluids.

.-sageways I6;3--and I I64 which-rare then :sealed zoff The primary distinction between the device of Figs. land -.2 resides intheistructural and operational characteristics of the thermalresponzsive =means,=the device of Fig. 2 being more -sen sitive than the device of'Fig. i1 ibyxreason of the diaphragm mounting which permits the fluid flowing through discharge :chamber D to Jireely circulate on opposite sides of the diaphragm.

Outlet port I32 may be suitably connected to ashowerheadtl by means of a length-ofppipe vortubing denoted generally by the'numeral 93.

,Inloperationof bothvalves a suitable source of ,hot .fluidmay, by way of example, be .con- .nected to inlet port .I-0 of chamber A and a suit- .able source .of coldfiuid connected to port I2 of chamber B. Thehotand coldfluids from chamhers A and B will be discharged through their respective orifice ports 22 and 24 into mixing chamber '0 in which they will be thoroughly mixedand then flow into discharge .chamber D onto and against the thermal responsive means l Spring '82 can then shift the valve slightly downward. The two forces willreach a balance point and the mixed'fluid will'be of a constant temperature.

Similarly, if spring 82 exerts a greater force downward than than the push upward .by the diaphragm elements, the valve will shift downward permitting a greater ratio .of hot to cold fluid to enter chamber C, increasing the temperature of the mixed fluids and causing gas or fluid confined by the diaphragms to expand and move valve 28 upward. Again a balance .point will'lbe quickly reached.

.If the inlet source of hot or cold fluid varies, .thediaphragm element andspring will co-operate in the above described manner to maintain a substantially constant discharge temperature of Thus a drop in the supply or temperature of hot flu id'will allow the spring tos'hift the slide valve downward because .ofa decrease in the pressure of the. gasloriflu-id con- "fined'by the (diaphragms'resulting from .cooler discharge fluid. Downward movement of vthe slide valve increases the inlet of hot fluid and decreases the'in'let of cold fluid to chamber CI, ithusbringing the mixed jfluids quickly back to their original temperature. The valve works conversely to maintain constant discharge temperature if the cold fluid. supply isjlowere'd or its temperature raised.

"By proper manipulation of handle IIO6 and thus of the tension on the spring, any desired temperature of the mixed'fluids maybe-accurately preselected. Greater tension on the spring will result in higher temperature of the mixed fluids because it will tend to shiftthevalve downward, uncovering hot fluid port .22, and Willie- .quire greater force by the diaphragm elements to overcome thespring force and shift the valve upward. Conversely lesser tension in thespring will mean lower temperature ofthemixed fluids. By screwing adjusting rod to .its fully raised position, a discharge flowof cold fluid only =can-be obtained. A dial and pointer, not illustrated,

7 may be supplied with the adjusting rod to facilitate preselection of the discharge fluid temperature.

In the above manner I have provided a mixing valve extremely sensitive to temperature change yet easily contructed and quite durable.

Various changes and modifications in the structural details of this device may, of course, be made within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid mixing valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet chambers, a mixing chamber and a discharge chamber, means within said mixing chamber for proportioning the flow of fluid from each of said inlet chambers into the mixing chamber, said means including a substantially fiat slide valve and an actuator member therefor one end of which member extends outwardly through said housing, the other end of which extends into and terminates in said discharge chamber, thermal responsive means disposed in, secured to and carried by said discharge chamber, said means operatively engaging an end of said actuator member, said mixing and discharge chambers being interconnected whereby the entire flow of fluid into the mixing chamber is directed into the discharge chamber and directly onto and against the thermal responsive means therein, a second housing including a pair oi":

laterally spaced fixedly interconnected upper and lower elements, a spring housing including a pair of laterally spaced fixedly interconnected upper and lower end members, said upper end member having an aperture therethrough, a spring abutment disposed between said end members for axial movement within said housing, a spring interposed between said abutment and the lower end member for normally and yieldably urging it toward the upper end member, said lower end member having a recess therein dimensioned to receive that end of the actuator member which projects outwardly from the valve housing, the upper element of the second housing having a threaded bore therethrough in substantial axial alignment with said spring housing, a shaft threadably engaging said bore for disposing one end thereof through the aperture in the upper end of the spring housing and in contacting relationship with said spring abutment, said shaft rotatable for applying a resilient counterforce to that end of the actuator member remote from said thermal responsive means, and means int rconnecting said first and second housings.

2. A fluid mixing valve comprising a housing including a mixing chamber and a discharge chamber, a pair of inlet chambers disposed on one side of the mixing chamber, substantially flat slide valve means within said mixing chamber for proportioning the flow of fluid from each of said inlet chambers into the mixing chamber, said means including an actuator member one end of which extends outwardly through and projects beyond said housing, the other end of which extends into said discharge chamber, a flexible diaphragm spanning the discharge chamber for dividing it into an upper and a lower zone with that side of the diaphragm in the upper zone secured to an end of said actuator member, said mixing and discharge chambers interconnected whereby the entire flow of fluid into the mixing chamber is directed into the upper zone of the discharge chamber and directly onto and against the said diaphragm, a thermal responsive media contained within said lower zone, a bonnet ineluding a pair of laterally-spaced fixedly-interconnected upper and lower elements, a spring housing loosely receivable between said upper and lower elements, said housing including a pair of laterally spaced fixedly interconnected upper and lower end members, said upper end member having an aperture therethrough, a spring abutment disposed between said end members for axial movement within said spring housing, a spring interposed between the lower end member and said abutment for normally and yieldably urging it toward the upper end member, said lower end member having a closed ended recess therein dimensioned to receive that end of the actuator member which projects outwardly beyond the valve housing, the upper and lower elements of the bonnet having axially aligned and threaded bores therethrough, a shaft threadably engaging the bore through the upper element for disposing the free end of said shaft through the aperture in the upper end of the spring housing and in contacting relationship with said spring abutment, said shaft rotatable for indirectly applying a resilient counterforce through said spring, spring housing and thence to that end of the actuator member remote from said diaphragm, and an externally threaded boss projecting from the valve housing and surrounding portions of the actuator member which projects outwardly of and beyond said boss, the threaded bore of the lower element of said bonnet engageable with the boss of the valve housing for securely though detachably securing the bonnet in operative relationship with said actuator member.

3. A fluid mixing valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet chambers, a mixing chamber and a discharge chamber, substantially flat slide valve means within said mixing chamber for proportioning the flow of fluid from each of said inlet chambers into the mixing chamber, valve actuating means including a pair of axially aligned actuator members one of which extends outwardly through said housing, the other of which extends into said discharge chamber, thermal responsive means disposed in, secured to and carried by said discharge chamber, said means operatively engaging an end of said actuator member, said mixing and discharge chambers being in open communication whereby the entire flow of fluid from the mixing chamber is directed into the discharge chamber and directly onto and against the thermal responsive means therein, a second housing including a pair of laterally spaced fixedly interconnected upper and lower elements, a spring housing including a pair of laterally spaced fixedly interconnected upper and lower end members, said upper end member having an aperture therethrough, a spring abutment disposed between said end members for axial movement within said housing, a spring interposed between said abutment and the lower end member for normally and yieldably urging it toward the upper end member, said lower end member having a recess therein dimensioned to loosely receive in abutting relationship that end of the actuator member which projects outwardly from the valve housing, the upper element of the second housing having a threaded bore therethrough in substantial axial alignment with said actuator members, a shaft threadably engaging said bore for disposing one end thereof through the aperture in the upper end of the spring housing and in contacting relationship with said spring abutment, said shaft rotatable for indirectly applying a resilient counterforce through said spring, to the spring housing and thence to that end of the actuator member engaging the spring housing, said counterforce be ing opposed to the force exerted by said thermal responsive means, said shaft also rotatable for completely removing the application of any resilient counterfcrce in opposition to the forces exerted by said thermal responsive means for shifting said slide valve means to completely close off the flow of fluid from one of said inlet chambers to said mixing chamber.

4. A fluid mixing valve comprising a housing having a pair of inlet chambers, a mixing chamber and a discharge chamber, means within said mixing chamber for proportioning the flow of fluid from each of said inlet chambers into the mixing chamber, said means including a substantially flat slide valve and an actuator member therefor one end of which member extends outwardly through said housing, the other end of which extends into and terminates in said discharge chamber, a pair of laterally spaced diaphragm elements interconnected along their peripheral edge for defining a closed receptacle for a thermally expansible media housed therein, a pressure plate secured to and carried by that end of the actuator member terminating in the discharge chamber, said plate engaging the cen tral portion of one of said diaphragm elements, a raised boss provided in the discharge chamber, means securing the other diaphragm element to said boss for mounting the diaphragm centrally of the discharge chamber for free circulation of fluid therearound, said mixing and discharge chambers being interconnected whereby the entire flow of fluid from the mixing chamber is directed into the discharge chamber directly onto and around the receptacle defined by the diaphragm elements, and axially shiftable means located exteriorly of the valve housing engaging that end of the actuator member which extends through said housing for applying a resilient force to said member.

5. A mixing valve comprising a housing divided into a pair of inlet chambers, a mixing chamber and a discharge chamber, an inlet port in both the inlet chambers, a substantially fiat orifice plate between the mixing and each of the inlet chambers, said plate provided with two ports interconnecting the mixing and each of the inlet chambers, a fiat slide valve located in the mixing chamber dimensioned to selectively engage the ports in said orifice plate for proportionately varying their relative openings, means yieldably urging said valve in seating relationship with said orifice plate, an opening in said housing interconnecting said inlet chamber and said discharge chamber, a hollow expansible diaphragm element all sides of which are in open communication with said discharge chamber secured to and carried by said housing on a portion of one side, an actuator rod interconnecting the opposite side of said element and said valve, means within said element operable in response to temperature changes for expanding said element for linearly shifting said valve in one direction to ward one end of its stroke, a second actuator rod one end of which engages said valve, a spring engaging the other end of said second actuator rod for urging said valve in the opposite direc tion toward the other end of its stroke, means adjustably secured to said housing for engaging and carrying said spring and operable for selectively controlling the efiectiveness of said spring means on said valve.

6. A mixing valve comprising a housing comprising two inlet chambers, a mixing chamber and a discharge chamber, an inlet port in each inlet chamber, an orifice plate disposed between the mixing chamber and both inlet chambers, said plate provided with two ports, one interconnect ing each inlet chamber and said mixing chamber, a flat slide valve located in the mixing chamber dimensioned to selectively engage the ports in said orifice plate for proportionately varying their relative openings, said mixing and discharge chambers being in open communication, a movable diaphragm element within said discharge chamber secured to said housing along its peripheral edge for dividing said chamber into an upper zone and a lower zone, an actuator member interconnecting said diaphragm element and said valve, thermally responsive media in said lower zone operable in response to temperature changes for shifting the diaphragm element for moving said valve toward one end of its stroke, a second actuator member one end of which engages said valve, and means engaging the other end of the second actuator member for normally and yieldably urging said valve toward the other end of its stroke.

WILIJANI V. JORDAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,208,130 Fulton Dec. 12, 1916 1,900,221 Beardsley Mar. 7, 1933 1,980,624 Kenney Nov. 13, 1934 2,465,458 Jordan Mar. 29, 1949 

